Manual controlling means for vehicle-signals



E. G. BALCH.

MANUAL CONTROLLING MEANS FOR VEHICLE SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1919.

1,368,095. w Patented Feb. 8, 1921..

I 1. Mil-II mm \WITNEISSES J6 INVENTOR a? izfwv jmfe ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES EB'EN GEORGE BALGH, or YNEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANUAL CONTROLLING MEANS roa VEHICLE-SIGNALS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Original application filed July 23, 1918, Serial No. 246,417. Divided and this application filed May 10,

1919. Serial No. 296,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennn G. BALoH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of N ewburyport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Manual Controlling'Means for V ehicle-Signals, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to signalingapparatus,,and has particular reference to variable or changeable signal appliances for use in connection in, upon, or with vehicles such as aeroplanes, automobiles, or other land or water conveyances. 1

Among the more specific objects of the in vention is to provide improved hand oper-' ated setting or controlling means for signal: ing of the nature above set forth, and par ticularly described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,320,308, issued to me on the 28th day of October, 1919, and of which this is a division.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the controller or switch box.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale; and

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the wiring and indicating the relation of the lamps to the controller and light projecting controller magnets.

For the convenience of the reader in reviewing this specification in connection with the parent specification, similar parts of all of the views in both specifications are indicated by like reference characters.

By the means set forth herein to enable the operator of the vehicle or the like to transmit suitable signals, either to another driver or to the people stationed at any distance therefrom, I provide a controller box 31 of segmental form for convenience and provided on its interior with a small low voltage electric lamp 32 in circuit constantly with a battery 33 or other suitable source of energy. 34 indicates a controller or switch handle connected to a shaft 35 journaled in the controller box, the free end of the switch handle being movable in an arc of a circle over the face of said box, the point 34' of the handle sweeping successively over distinguishing color inserts 36, 36*, 36', 36", 36", 36, and 36 As indicated in Fig. 1 these inserts are preferably provided with legends directly thereon so that the meaning of the different colors will always be apparent to the operator even though of limited experience, and whereby furthermore a distant observer of similar signalsmay by a glance at his controller box similarly equipped, be advised infallibly as tothe intention of the distant operator; The handle 34 is provided preferably with some suitable spring actuated catch 37 adapted to snap successively intoaseries ofsockets 38 formed in the face of the controller box so that the handle will always be held atany desired adjustment. p

Within the box 3lis located an arc-shaped contact carrier 39 made preferably of insulation and carrying a pair of contacts 40 for each color signal. Attached to the axle 35'o'f the switch handle is a switch arm 41 carrying a pair of spring actuated contacts 42 always in electrical communication with each other and constituting a bridge between the normally spaced contacts 40 of the several pairs of contacts on the bar 39. I provide aseries of selective electromagnets 43, shown as seven in number, and identified herein with the distinguishing characters 43, 43 43 43, 43*, 43 and 43, corresponding in number, character, and-order to the other distinguishing color features. These magnets 43 are adapted to be brought successively into circuit with the battery 33 or any other suitable source of energy, the means shown comprising a conductor 44 leading from one side of the battery to the several pairs of fixed contacts 40, thence through the selective conductors 45, 45 45 45, 45", 45",

and 45?, through the corresponding pairs of magnets and thence through a trunk conductor 46 back to the battery. The magnets 43 act successively upon an armature 47 fixed to the end of an arm 48 journaled upon a stud 49 to which arm is attached any suitable part to be actuated.

The position of the switch handle and other parts, the location of which is determined thereby, as shown in the drawings is at the clear indication or to indicate the forward movement of the vehicle. Under these conditions the armature 47 as well as the switch handle is in its mid position. The lamp 16, employed as the main signal lamp and located at any suitable place, consequently is glowing and clear light is being projected. Between each pair of contacts 40 and the next is a dead spot and so if desired the switch handle may be moved to any dead spot with the result that the lamp 16 is cut out and the magnets are all dead. The operator then desiring to project any color or light indicated and named OHlllS chart or control box will grasp the handle 84 and swing itaround its axis so as to point directly to the center of the corresponding color insert 36'. During this movementfiWo conditions obtain; first since the first pair of contacts 40 are bridged during this movement of the switch handle the circuit pertaining thereto will be completed and a flash of distinct color will be projected from the light casings. If the handle is being moved through a considerable distance there will correspondingly be a succession of different colored flashes which willhave the efiect of calling attention of the observer to the fact that the operator is changing his light indication. The second result of this step by step actuation of the handle will be to successively energize the intermediate magnets l3 whereby the armature 47 will be actuated from one magnet to the next" making the magnets effective to swing the arm 48 irrespective of the distance from the starting pointto the intended position of the switch handle.

The signaling apparatus herein described and illustrated is of relatively simple construction, easy to understand and manipulate, and is exceedingly effective in practice. The skill or effort on the part of the operator is limited by the movement of the handle 34 over the arc arrangement of color inserts andhis ability to read the legends thereon. In the movement of the handle 34 from one position to another the operator can always appreciate the snapping of the catch 37 into a socket 38 and thereby will know that he'is either giving a signaling indication or that his apparatus is at an intermediate dead point. The small lamp 32 is indicated here; in as being in constant circuit so that. all "of the color inserts are constantly illuminated.

Iclaim: o s Y In manual controlling means for vehicle si 'nals; a controller box having a series of co or inserts corresponding to various sigs nals to be displayed, means to render said inserts constantly legible, selective contact devices in the controller box corresponding to the several distinctive colors distinctive circuits associated with said contact devices, and distinctive legends associated with the several signal color inserts.

EBEN GEORGE BALOH. 

